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Peter Fenzel, Mark Lee, and Matthew Wrather overthink The Price is Right as a tribute to Bob Barker (1923–2023). They play Showcase Showdown, and then consider the essential characteristics of the game shows, arriving at:
- The Game Show has a Prize that matters; people watch the Game Show for the Prize.
- The Game Show has a Host, who imparts a distinctive tone on the show.
- Contestants on the Game Show are distinguished by their distance from the tone.
- The Game Show embodies an idea of the Good Life.
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Further Reading
- Bob Barker and The Price is Right (Wikipedia)
- Showcase Showdown
- The Price Is Right During Covid
- Mark Lee on Ask Me Another
I think a big thing that moves something along the game show to reality show axis is the contestants. If it’s regular people competing it has more of a game show vibe than if it’s people who are on the show because they’re famous in another realm. It isn’t always the case (celebrity Jeopardy! is firmly a game show).